INUIT HOMELESSNESS IN MONTREAL Makivik Corporation Innovative Strategy and Action Plan A Success Story Presentation by Donat Savoie C.Q. Strategic Advisor to Makivik Corporation CAEH16 LONDON ONTARIO NOVEMBER 2-4, 2016
10-09-03
INUIT POPULATION IN CANADA (2011) NUNAVUT: (45.5%) 27,070 NUNAVIK: (18.2%) 10,750 Inuvialuit: (5.6%) 3,310 Nunatsiavut Labrador: (3.9%) 2,325 Outside Nunangat: (26.9%) 15,990 TOTAL: 59,445
INUIT IN THE 1950s Inuit in Canada numbered 10,000 people In 1956, largest Inuit community in Canada: Sanatorium in Hamilton: 322 patients One third of Inuit was infected by TB Many Inuit died in hospital buried locally Devastating effect for families left behind
KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ UNGAVA BAY - 1967
KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ 2010
WHY INUIT GO TO MONTREAL PULL FACTORS To accompany a family member For employment Medical services To continue studies Attracted to city life
PUSH FACTORS Housing crisis in Nunavik communities Increasing rate of blind homelessness Family problems High cost of living High level of poverty 6 Inuit out of 10 do not get enough to eat Lack of employment Arrival of former detainees
BLIND HOMELESSNESS IN NUNAVIK (AND NUNAVUT) People without a home of their own People who do not have shelter They are called drifters in Nunavik Couch surfers (Conference Board Canada) 50 Inuit men homeless in Kuujjuaq
HOUSING CRISIS IN NUNAVIK IS THE MAIN HOMELESSNESS-MAKER FACTOR IN NUNAVIK AND IN MONTREAL
HOMELESSNESS IN MONTREAL Aboriginals: 0.3% of Montreal population Aboriginals: overrepresented Inuit form 10% of Aboriginal people Inuit form 45% of all homeless Aboriginals 80% from Nunavik 20% from Nunavut 400-600 Inuit are low-income or homeless Homelessness: lasting legacy of residential schools and other historical traumas
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF HOMELESS INUIT IN MONTREAL As many men as women Consumption of alcohol and drugs Inuit women reconnect with violence/misery Face racism Isolation is particularly significant Major health problems: HIV/AIDS Mental Disorders Cancer Accidents Hepatitis C
MAKIVIK CORPORATION Established in 1978 James Bay Agreement Represents all Inuit of Québec Manage compensation funds Protects rights and interests of Inuit Economic development Makivik Board and Executive elected by Inuit President: Jobie Tukkiapik INUIT ARE TAXPAYERS AS ANY CANADIAN
MAKIVIK STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ON LOW INCOME AND HOMELESS INUIT (2011) TWO OBJECTIVES To ensure Inuit in difficulty or homeless do get access to medical services and social programs Work on prevention of homelessness
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGY BY ESTABLISHING PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SENSITIVE TO INUIT NEEDS AND CULTURE
POLES OF SERVICES
CHEZ DORIS WOMEN CENTRE 1430 rue Chomedey Montréal QC H3H 2A7 514.937.2341
CHEZ DORIS WOMEN CENTRE In existence for 40 years Day shelter for women (100 visitors per day) Open 7 days a week Services offered: food; showers, clothing room; emergency food bags; 6 respite beds; referral assistance; financial management program; aboriginal housing placement; health and mental health services; legal services; tax-filing services; educational and socio-recreational programs. Inuit Assistance Program: 17% are Inuit Makivik funds Inuit Case Worker
OCTOBER 4, 2012 SIGNING OF PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAKIVIK AND PROJETS AUTOCHTONES DU QUÉBEC
PROJETS AUTOCHTONES DU QUÉBEC CENTRE Inuit (50%) First Nations, Métis New building opened July 2016 Shelter unit: 54 beds New unit: 16 transition rooms Makivik provides funding and expertise Development Inuit specific programs
THE OPEN DOOR SHELTER 4006 Dorchester Avenue, Westmount
THE OPEN DOOR SHELTER Daytime centre (Monday-Friday) in Church Serves 100 meals a day: 40% of visitors are Inuit Priority: Inuit to have access to medical services, social programs Housing first program primarily for Inuit Makivik funds position Assistant Director and activities for Inuit
NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE OF MONTREAL 2001 boul. St-Laurent, Montréal QC Founded 40 years ago Assist Aboriginal people in making transition to the urban community Referrals, counselling, cultural activities, etc. Makivik funds Inuit Case Worker and Inuit carvers 10-09-03
MÉDECINS DU MONDE DOCTORS OF THE WORLD 2014: MdM launched first mobile clinic in Montreal Health care services provided by doctors and nurses Logo of Makivik on mobile clinic Financial support by Makivik to ensure visit of Inuit and of Makivik partners Makivik funds MdM for Inuit student to do field placement in mobile clinic
PLEIN MILIEU 4677 rue St-Denis, Montréal QC Community Organization established in 1993 Located Plateau Mont-Royal Borough of Montreal Services to Youth, Drug Users, Aboriginal People Recent migration of Inuit to the Borough PLEIN MILIEU participating in 5-year Plan Makivik provides professional expertise Makivik provides funds for activities for Inuit
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF MAKIVIK Provides professional expertise to partners Ensure collaboration between Inuit organizations and partners: training, housing, cultural activities, etc. Transport of deceased Inuk to his community Assist Inuit to obtain identity cards Inuit Art Exhibit TAKU by Inuit carvers Access to country foods for Inuit at partners
COLLABORATION WITH GOVERNMENTS AND CITY OF MONTREAL Section on Inuit in Quebec Government policy and action plan on homelessness Section on Inuit in City of Montreal Action Plan Makivik member on Boards for implementation of action plans Close collaboration with Montreal Police Department: - support to Inuit in need - training of police officers
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ON LOW INCOME AND HOMELESS INUIT IN MONTREAL 2012: Study financed by Makivik/Govt Japan on Low-income and homeless Inuit in Montreal Professor Nobuhiro Kishigami 2016: Development of Inuit-specific healing programs and substance abuse programs Professor Christopher Fletcher Laval Univ. Funded by Urban Partnership/Indigenous Affairs Canada and Makivik 2019: Updated study by Professor Kishigami
URBAN INUIT RESEARCH Community level research ex. Kishigami Collect information on policies, programs, best practices in other Canadian cities, and northern governments (NWT, Nunavut, Labrador) Research partnerships to be developed
NATIONAL URBAN INUIT STRATEGY Developed by Inuit from Canadian cities and Inuit Nunangat (Inuit land claims regions) under leadership of Ottawa Tungasuvvingat Inuit Association Tabled with Minister of Indigenous Affairs To replace current Urban Aboriginal Strategy Sectors identified by Montreal Inuit: Health Social Justice Culture - Employment
MAJOR CHALLENGES REGARDING LOW- INCOME AND HOMELESS INUIT IN MONTREAL Major Review Report of Makivik 2008-2016 No major changes for now to present strategy of Makivik CHALLENGES: Continuous migration to Montreal Influx of former detainees (Administration of justice in Nunavik is a fiasco Quebec Ombudsman)
FUTURE OF INUIT HOMELESSNESS THREE POSSIBLE SCENARIOS 1. Homelessness becomes routine 2. Homelessness is no more a problem: adequate housing, income, support 3. Homelessness worsens: as more Inuit come to Montreal, more of them encounter unemployment or homelessness